Study: Risk of vaccinated people catching COVID-19 increases if they have depression

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

The risk of vaccinated people catching COVID-19 can rise by up to a quarter if they have
depression or other mental illnesses, according to new research from California.

Known as 'breakthrough' cases, they are 24 percent more common in those over 65 with psychiatric conditions, revealed the study, from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

These include bipolar, anxiety, psychosis and substance abuse. Younger individuals with similar problems are 11 percent more prone.

It opens the door to these groups being prioritized for booster shots and other preventive measures.

The phenomenon may be due to impaired immune systems - as well as risky behaviors associated with some disorders.

Those with weaker antibody responses to coronavirus jabs have been found to be more susceptible.

Senior author Professor Aoife O'Donovan, of UCSF, said: "Our research suggests increased breakthrough infections in people with psychiatric disorders cannot be entirely explained by socio-demographic factors or pre-existing conditions.

"It is possible that immunity following vaccination wanes more quickly or more strongly for people with psychiatric disorders. They may also have less protection to newer variants."

The findings are based on over a quarter of a million vaccinated US army veterans - more than nine in ten of whom were male.

They had completed their vaccine regimen and had at least one test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Just over half had received at least one psychiatric diagnosis within the last five years One in seven had been diagnosed with breakthrough COVID-19.

The risk rose 24, 23, 16, 14 and 12 percent, respectively, for over-65s with substance abuse, psychosis, bipolar, adjustment disorder and anxiety.

Surprisingly, given the greater incidence among younger people, there were significantly smaller effects in under-65s.

Moreover, the risks were 10% lower in participants with psychotic disorders - possibly due to lower socialization.

Older people "may be less socially isolated because of their greater burden of ill health and contacts with caregivers," explained Prof O'Donovan.

But breakthrough infections associated with substance abuse, adjustment disorder, anxiety and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) were 11, 9, 4 and 3 percent higher, respectively.

Calculations took into account age, sex, race, ethnicity, vaccine type, smoking history and underlying conditions linked to breakthrough cases.

These include obesity, diabetes, sleep apnoea, cardiovascular, lung, kidney and liver diseases, HIV and cancer.

Earlier this year a study by the same team showed people with anxiety and probable PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) were more likely to engage in behaviors that put them at higher risk for COVID-19.

First author Dr. Kristen Nishimi, also from UCSF, believes a higher incidence of breakthrough infection among older participants may be due to "decreased immunological response to vaccines that has been associated with some psychiatric disorders, which may be more substantial in older adults."

It is also possible older adults with psychiatric disorders "may require more frequent in-person care, which could increase their interactions with the health care system."

Breakthrough risks for other non-psychiatric conditions were also calculated and adjusted for factors like obesity and smoking status, as well as other underlying conditions.

The researchers found patients with chronic kidney disease had an increased risk of 23%, compared with 20, 19, 18 and 13 percent, respectively for HIV, cardiovascular disease, COPD and sleep apnoea.

Certain psychiatric conditions, particularly in the 65-plus group, face risks that are on a par with other conditions, said Prof O'Donovan.

“Mental health is important to consider in conjunction with other risk factors, and some patients should be prioritized for boosters and other critical preventive efforts."

The study is in JAMA Network Open.